Move. Learn. Adapt.
An Artist Talk at The British University in Egypt
December 2025 · Cairo, Egypt · Guest Lecture
I was invited to speak to art students at The British University in Egypt about my journey from working in technology to becoming a self-taught artist.
It was my first university lecture, and an opportunity to share something I've come to believe deeply: the most valuable thing we can learn is how to keep learning.
Learning to Adapt
What happens when the world changes faster than the skills we're taught?
With artificial intelligence transforming creative industries, it's a question that feels increasingly relevant to anyone pursuing a career in art and design.
During the lecture, I shared my experience of leaving a career in software development and UI/UX design to pursue illustration and storytelling without formal qualifications in those fields.
My journey hasn't followed a conventional path.
Much of what I know today, I've learned independently, through experimentation, mistakes, persistence, and the willingness to start again.
I wanted students to understand that university isn't simply about acquiring a particular set of skills.
It's also about learning how to study, how to face unfamiliar challenges, and how to adapt when the world around us changes.
Because the skills we need tomorrow might not even exist today.
Beyond the Lecture
After the talk, I spent time answering students' questions, sharing my recent sketchbooks, and discussing the challenges of building a creative career.
We talked about art, technology, uncertainty, and the decisions that shape our lives. These conversations were among the most meaningful parts of the experience. They reminded me of how much I had wanted guidance when I was starting my own journey.
Somewhere along the way, without really noticing it, I had gone from looking for a mentor to becoming one for others.
Keep Moving. Keep Learning.
I don't believe there is a single path to becoming an artist, or that a degree, a job title, or a particular set of skills defines what we're capable of becoming.
What matters is our willingness to remain curious, challenge ourselves, and continue learning. That's the message I wanted to leave with the students at BUE.
Move. Learn. Adapt.
Let's start a conversation.
I share my experiences with students, artists, and creative communities through talks and conversations about self-learning, creativity, technology, and adapting to change.
If you're organizing an event and think my perspective could contribute to it, I'd love to hear from you.
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